Salkantay Trek: Explore Andean Glaciers and Machu Picchu

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Embark on a 5-day Salkantay trek to Machu Picchu. Experience glaciers, wildlife, and the famous Humantay Lake. Discover breathtaking landscapes and ancient wonders.

Duration: 5 days

Cancellation: 24 hours

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Highlights

Cusco City – Mollepata – Humantay Lagoon – Soraypampa

Cusco - After being picked up from the hotel (around 4:00 a.m.), we will travel in our private van towards the town of Mollepata, a journey of approximately 3 hours.
Mollepata - Upon reaching this town, we will have time to enjoy breakfast before continuing for another hour in the van to…

Cusco City – Mollepata – Humantay Lagoon – Soraypampa

Cusco - After being picked up from the hotel (around 4:00 a.m.), we will travel in our private van towards the town of Mollepata, a journey of approximately 3 hours.

Mollepata - Upon reaching this town, we will have time to enjoy breakfast before continuing for another hour in the van to Challacancha, where our trek begins. We will walk for 3 hours alongside the water channel until we arrive at the Soraypampa camp.

SORAYPAMPA - Here, we will have an organic lunch and enjoy clean drinking water to fill our bottles, all while taking in the panoramic views of the Salkantay Glacier, Humantay mountains, and others.

Humantay Lake - In the afternoon, we will visit the Humantay Lagoon (4200 masl), where our guide will lead a Pachamama Kintu, a type of offering to connect with Pachamama - Mother Earth. This offering is made to the Salkantay and Humantay mountains, and in return, we hope for their protection.

SORAYPAMPA - We will then descend back to the Soraypampa camp (3850 masl) where we will have tea, dinner, and a well-deserved rest.

Soraypampa – Huayramachay – Chaullay

SORAYPAMPA - After a hearty breakfast, we will have clean water to fill our bottles before starting our trek to the Salkantay pass, located at 4,620m, the highest point of our trek.

Chaullay – Granadillas – Sawayaco

Sawayaco Beach – Llaqta Pata Inca Trail – Machupicchu Town

Mirador de Llactapata - We will begin our walk through the tropical forest area and coffee plantations before arriving at the archaeological center of Llactapata, where we will enjoy a panoramic view of Machu Picchu, Huayna Picchu mountain, Huchuy Machu Picchu, and the sacred city of the Incas along with their valleys and ravines.

Aguas Calientes - The adventure continues with a descent to the Hydroelectric dam, which should take around 2 hours. Here, we will have lunch before continuing with a 3-hour walk along the flat railway path until we reach the Machu Picchu town of Aguas Calientes. We will settle into the hotel, have dinner, and receive an explanation for the Machu Picchu tour the next day.

Machu Picchu tour

Aguas Calientes - Today is a significant day as you will explore Machu Picchu, one of the Seven Wonders of the World. The Machu Picchu sanctuary opens at 6:00 am. We will start with breakfast at our hotel. Our guide will explain the restrictions of Machu Picchu. We recommend taking the bus from Aguas Calientes town up to Machu Picchu, but you also have the option to walk uphill for an hour and a half to reach the historic sanctuary of Machu Picchu.

Santuario Historico de Machu Picchu - To pass the control points, we need entrance tickets to Machu Picchu and a personal passport. Once inside, we will have a 3-hour guided tour of Machu Picchu. In Machu Picchu LLaqta, we will observe Inca architecture, Inca hydraulic engineering, and the important sites of the archaeological center. We will visit classic photo spots, the main gate to the urban sector of the Incas, the quarries of Machu Picchu, the main temple (Temple of the Sun), the Royal Tomb, the Intiwatana sundial, the Temple of the 3 Windows, the central square, the Sacred Rock of Machu Picchu, the Craft Sector, the Temple of the Condor, and more. Our official guide will provide detailed explanations about Machu Picchu and its key places.

Aguas Calientes - We recommend taking the bus back down to the village 3 hours before your train departs. In Aguas Calientes town, you can have lunch, visit the hot springs, or explore the city and the craft market.

Ollantaytambo - At the designated time, we will take the train back to the sacred valley of Ollantaytambo, where a representative of Dog Travel Peru will be waiting for you.

Cusco - From here, you will board the bus that will take us back to Cusco, concluding our classic Inca Trail adventure.

What's Included

Boiled water for a drink and Daily snacks in a bag per person
First-aid kit including an emergency oxygen bottle
Lunch
Transport: from Ollantaytambo Train Station to your hotel at Cusco
Dinner
Breakfast
One way Bus Ticket to Machupicchu
Private Transport Cusco - Mollepata
Train ticket to return Aguas Calientes - Ollantaytambo
Duffle Bag for 7 Kilos of your personal gear (carried by the horses)

What's Not Included

Sleeping Bags and Walking Sticks
Tips for our staff
Bus tickets down to Aguas calientes ($12 per person)
Hiking clothes and gear
Train from Hidroelectrica to Aguas Calientes ($35 per person)

Additional Information

Experience an amazing Salkantay trek that connects you to the high Andean glacier. Embrace the bond with nature through medicinal plants and local wildlife. Marvel at the breathtaking sunsets and sunrises over the mountains. Visit the renowned Humantay Lake, Cusco’s most famous lake. Take in stunning views of mountains, lagoons, waterfalls, canyons, and…

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings

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(5 Ratings)

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Cecek139

Sep 21, 2024

Best trip of my life - I recently finished the trek with a friend. As two young female travelers with limited trekking experience, we couldn't have imagined a better guide or more meaningful adventure than the one we had with David and Peruvian Culture Tours. We chose the classic 5-day Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu. This business is the definition of integrity. Unlike big companies, Peruvian Culture Tours directly helps local families and sustains local cultures. David, who founded the company with his wife, has deep roots in the region, is himself indigenous, and only hires indigenous teams from the region. He also pointed us to various local producers for where to purchase coffee/chocolate etc. He cares so deeply about using Peruvian Culture Tours to lift up his region and puts sustainability–cultural and environmental–at the heart of the business. Everything you could need is included. David carried oxygen and is trained in first aid, we had ample snacks, and were woken up each morning with a cup of coca tea! Every campsite was stunning and incredibly comfortable. The food was amazing, fresh, and abundant!! We left feeling like we had a wonderful new friend/family in our lives. It was truly an experience of a lifetime!! This is a new business and absolutely one worth supporting!! I have traveled extensively and have never met a guide like David. If you’re thinking about doing any trek to Machu Picchu, look no further than David and Peruvian Culture Tours.

Review provided by Tripadvisor

G2283wbisabellev

Sep 21, 2024

The Experience of a Lifetime! - My 5 day trek on the Salkantay trail to Machu Picchu was nothing short of incredible. From the very beginning, the experience was deeply rooted in the local culture and traditions, making it far more than just a physical journey. Our guide, David, a native of the Sacred Valley region, brought the mountains and their history to life through his knowledge of the region’s plants, animals, people, history and culture. He is also just an incredibly inspiring and kind person. We encountered so many different landscapes on one trek: mountains, lakes, glaciers, hills, cloud forests, and jungles. Our guide knew the terrain expertly well, and took us off the beaten path to see hidden sects of wildlife, including Llamas, toucans, and showing us medicinal plants! Peruvian culture tours supports indigenous communities in the region by employing indigenous people, guiding us to sustainable business to purchase things, as well as being run by an indigenous family. David also has a passion for helping the many stray dogs in the area, and donates part of the profits to this effort. As a female solo traveler, I felt incredibly safe, cared for and prepared. David anticipated everything, carried first aid supplies and Oxygen, and was patient with everyone’s pace. The logistics were seamless, and the lodging was very comfortable and they kindly set up the tent each night. The food was beyond delicious, the chef prepared beautiful and elaborate meals with local ingredients. And we were woken up each morning with a hot cup of Coca tea! Everything needed was included, and they didn’t miss a thing. If you're looking for an adventure that goes beyond the typical tourist experience, I can’t recommend this trek enough. It was absolutely worth every penny, and I would recommend Peruvian culture tours to absolutely everyone!

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Nicola

Jun 3, 2024

Salkantay 5 day hike and Cusco 1/2 day tour highly recommend. - David from Peruvian culture tours organised my Salkantay 5 day hike extremely well. I did not have to worry about a thing. David had included in the cost hotel booking , bus and train tickets and my pre purchased Machu Picchu ticket. Which many travellers did not have on this hike which added stress to the last days of this trip. David and his wife were very helpful and extremely kind. Beautiful people I felt so grateful.

Review provided by Tripadvisor

Jameshz9376kq

Jun 1, 2024

Peruvian Culture Tours with David is without a doubt the absolute best way to do Salkantay. - No question Peruvian Culture Tours with David is the way to do Salkantay. His business is just starting to take off and there may not be a ton of reviews, but don't let that distract from the fact that David (and PCT) is an awesome professional. I met him on an Amazon expedition before he started Peruvian Culture Tours and was blown away by his genuine passion for his country and its beautiful peoples, cultures, landscapes, and nature. When my friend visited, there was no doubt in my mind we should hike the Salkantay trail with David. And man was our trust in David rewarded. Firstly, the Salkantay trail is beautiful start to finish. I've done a decent amount of backpacking/hiking, and I've never done a trail so diverse and beautiful. From the base of Salkantay to the depths of the Andean cloud forest, there was never a dull sight. And David is the perfect person to guide you and unpack everything to be experienced at every point in the trail. He knows the ins and outs of the trail, as he grew up in a small town near Cusco. He perfectly structured the days so that we were never overwhelmed with the day's route nor bored with only a small walk on any given day. He also has assembled a great family team to take care of all the logistics. Every meal was hot and fresh cooked, the tents were comfortable, and most of your gear is carried by donkey or bus to the next campsite, allowing you to enjoy the trail with minimal gear. Additionally, the price is better than any other company I could find. David is also a true expert in everything related to Salkantay. He can identify every plant and animal encountered over the various terrain. He knows the comprehensive history of the Inca Empire and Quechua people. He also has extensive knowledge of the geography and geology of the area, both past and present. Whatever you're interested in, David can cover it extensively. Finally, David lives his life with an ethical conviction that is deeply admirable. He runs a true family operation where profits help the family, not get funneled into the pockets of rich owners of the larger operations in the area. He also contributes a portion of revenue to his ongoing effort to improve the lives of the large population of stray dogs (big problem in Peru) living in and around Cusco. Bottom line - choosing Peruvian Culture Tours with David is the right decision for every possible reason.

Review provided by Tripadvisor

Katherine

May 30, 2024

Incredible salkantay trek!! - Incredible Salkantay trek with David. My boyfriend and I (23 years old and female) have lived in Peru for nine months and had visited Machu Picchu twice before going just now with David post-trek. I am incredibly inspired by his enthusiasm and passion for work. A private salkantay trek with David is cheaper and more individualized than any other company I had researched. Instead of being in a group of 25, left miles behind the guide on the trail, David was with my group of three every step of the way. Every day we woke up with a steaming cup of coca tea. The pace of the trek was set by you, and David was always providing insight into animals and plants which other guides were clearly skipping. On the third day we went to the thermal baths, which was also a great experience. Daily snacks were provided as well as an unlimited amount of water. We learned about quechua traditions (current and old) and ate absolutely delicious food. His english, spanish, and quechua are perfect as well. I sincerely could not recommend Peruvian Culture tours more!!

Review provided by Tripadvisor

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